Feasting in Fargo

Some of our Favorites in Fargo!

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time with the Ohlson family!!!! The kids were in heaven and happier than ever to be with their friends that they miss every single day. This year I am so grateful for change, prayer, humbling mothering moments, and family (both my own and our huge extended). My life is so full of good people - how could I not be grateful?

Happy Trick or Treating!

what are these three up to?

So, what have we been up to - well I'll tell you. Darla has started Preschool MWF in the afternoons and LOVE LOVE LOVES it! She is darling and now has some cute bangs. Darla will be 5 in December and to our amazement can read! Much time is spent reading. It was an exciting moment to see Curious George at the Children's Museum. Darla and Bennett have become such good friends. They always say they are going to marry each other. :)
Bennett is 3 and always has a sword in his hand. He is still into Pirates, but seems to be leaning more towards good guys/bad guys type play. Yes, he was sound asleep on the stairs and wears costumes to the train tracks. Doesn't get much better than that. I have loved having time with him while Darla is at preschool. We always find ourselves laughing.
Tate is 11 months in just a couple days! What! I can't believe it. He doesn't crawl, but scoots - you can see his "snail trail" in the pictures above. He is enjoying being able to reach and get into Darla and Bennett's way when they are trying to play or create something. He is the best baby.

My Flesh

So, I know I usually am just full of pictures, but today is Bennett's 3rd Birthday and I have had a lot of thoughts. I thought I might write some of them down. The reason why this post is titled "My Flesh" because as strange as it sounds, that is one name that I have for my darling Bennett. His skin/flesh is so soft to the touch, squishy and lovable. Also, he is my son - so therefore my flesh. Thinking about 3 years ago when I was in labor with this 8 lb 9 oz boy, that was an intense experience in the flesh or in my mortal life. I love this boy with all that I am. I love his kindness, his sincerity, his ability to make me laugh, his touch, his eyes, the way he eats with pinkies up, his concentration/focus, his imagination, his words, his crocodile tears, his ability to tease, to sense emotion, and just the way he goes about each day "in his own unhurried style".
When I look at him, or at any of my children with love, I am carried away from this mortal/experience in the flesh, to a place that is of the eternal. My children teach me of God and Jesus Christ. They teach me of my imperfections. They teach me about the enabling power of the Atonement. They teach me of happiness and forgiveness - which more and more seem to go hand in hand. Being a mother in the flesh "is the time for [me] to prepare to meet our God; yea the day of this life is the day for [me] to perform [my] labors" Alma 34:32
A labor it is - and depending on the day it is a labor of love, or a labor of frustration.
I desire to have my flesh full of love for this chance I have to labor as mother.
In humble moments I realize what my Father in Heaven needs me to be.
". . . the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matt 26:41
I know that it is only through His help that this is possible.
I am humbled that He has given me my children to be my teachers.

the real life

 We had a Nelson Reunion up in Midway the first weekend in Utah. It was wonderful to be with everyone. I have been trying to get photos to upload for 15 minutes from this trip and it is being weird so those will have to come another time. We stayed in a BEAUTIFUL home and enjoyed time on Deer Creek and the loveliness of those surroundings.

 Lots of swimming time at Grandpa and Grandma Nelson's pool with the cousins (and Gladwells - so glad you joined us!)

 Playing on the floor happily at Papa and Crazy Grandmas. After Midway we stayed at my parents to prepare for the wedding and welcome Minkie to America! She is incredible. I love her.

 All ten siblings were in the temple to witness Matt and Minkie get married for time and all eternity. What a blessing. This was the number one highlight of the trip home for me. Such a blessing to be part of an eternal family.

 Myself and the handsome groom.

 As soon as the wedding was over we were packing up and off to Hebgen for the rest of our trip. Darla enjoyed herself on the knee board.

 I would find Bennett just sitting out in the middle of no where all the time. I think he enjoyed the space as much as I did. I swear I didn't see my kids the majority of the time we were at the cabin. Nieces, Nephews, Aunts, Uncles, Papa and Crazy Grandma took such great care of them!

 He did it! Bennett at the age of 2 got up on two skis! Cute boy! He said he wanted to do it and he did! Incredible.

 Thanks to Uncle Jim and his boys for giving four wheeler rides non stop! Love the pink shirt.

 Norah, Porter, Easton, Saydi, Tess, Darla, and Henry. What good friends they are to my little girl. I wish we lived by cousins.

 Floating down the Firehole River. Always a delight.

The SLR FUN RUN was held. I was able to complete the half marathon! Along with my sister Emily, neice Jessica, and Brothers Jon, Jim and Dave! I was so happy that I made it. So happy that my body let me keep going. I had been planning on running this, but started having problems with my knee. I said I would run as far as my knee let me. It let me go the WHOLE WAY!!!!! This is the 2nd best moment of the trip - crossing that finish line.

 My sister put together "Hebgen Survivor 2012" - little obstacle courses and activities for the kids.

 Here is Bennett participating in the "make yourself a beard and hat out of shaving cream" task.

 Bennett on the knee board. Following Darla's example of bravery :)

 Cousin line up. Classic photo we take every year. Too bad we didn't get it when everyone was around.

 When around Bennett - everyone turned into a pirate. Speaking in pirate terms, people had pirate names. Captain Bennett Pirate and his crew ruled the blue Hebgen Seas. My darling nieces Phoebe and Lydia put together a pirate treasure hunt and made telescopes and maps for this crew. So fun. Bennett was thrilled!!!!

 Whenever I couldn't find Tate (strange for me because he wasn't crawling yet) I would find him somewhere with his Grandma. Thanks Mom for helping me all the time. You won him over 100%.

 Enjoying the water. She is so darling. Beach days pretty much every day. I love this life.

 Tate would sit and play in the sand all day. All day. Hands down best baby ever.

 Man, this guy is handsome.

 I had to take this photo because there is one exactly like it hanging in my cabin of me and by brother Jon at the exact same ages and pose as Darla and Tate. Darla takes such good care of Tate.

 No real bath at the cabin just this sink. I think everyone as a child has a picture in this sink.

 Again, just out by himself playing for hours.

Here the three are - on the drive home. Leaving once again what was a brilliant trip to be with the people we love. What a wonderful summer. I wish it hadn't gone so fast.